Typically, people in every age have concluded God is more focused on "rules and regulations" than He is on people. The issue is not obedience. No one has the right to rebel against God. However, the matter focuses on two considerations: (a) what is the source of the rule and regulation? (b) How is rebellion defined?
In Jesus' day, there were lots of rules and regulations regarding the proper keeping of the Sabbath day. Exodus 20:8-11 [in the original giving of the Ten Commandments] contained an injunction against anyone in a Jewish household [whether slave or natural family member] working on the Sabbath day.
However, work is not defined. In fact, the Law of Moses no where gave a comprehensive definition of work. That is why they did not know [without inquiring of the Lord] what to do with the man gathering wood on the Sabbath in Numbers 15:32-36.
The situation was full of opportunity for human rules about what was and was not work. The Misnah, Shabbath 7:2 gives the 39 main classes of work. The intent should be familiar--it was the attempt to supply a workable definition to make a commandment obeyable.
However, obedience is composed of two considerations: (a) the act and (b) the attitude. The act of compliance without the attitude to comply is as spiritually meaningless as is the attitude of compliance that rejects the act of compliance. When obedience is reduced to mere acts, one can comply by going through the motions even when his/her heart is rebellious. Obedience involves both the will and the body of the person.
If you have not noticed, please take note of how often religious leaders in Israel felt resentment toward Jesus because they declared him a failure in complying with Sabbath regulations. Examples are found in Matthew 12:1ff; Luke 13:1, 14:1-6; John 5:1-10, 7:21-24; and 9:16.
Notice the example in today's text is the opposite of our concern. We would question the performance of a miracle. They did not. They were concerned about what they considered a Sabbath violation. Performing a miracle was fine. Just do it some day other than Saturday.
To Jesus' opponents, performing a miracle was an act of work unless the person's life was in immediate danger. The man with the withered hand did not face a life situation that placed him in immediate danger. From their perspective, the withered hand could be healed the next day. There was not a need for healing the man's hand on the Sabbath.
Also note from the moment Jesus entered the synagogue, the religious leaders watched him. If Jesus performed an act of healing, they would accuse him of Sabbath violation.
Before healing the man, Jesus asked a question: "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?" Within 150 years of that occasion, Jewish religious leaders ruled it was acceptable to God for the Jewish people to defend themselves on the Sabbath if they were attacked. This ruling came after Jewish slaughters inflicted by Syrian forces on Sabbaths because [at that time] Jews would not fight on Sabbaths. Basically Jesus asked if it was right to defend life on a Sabbath day, and was it also right to do good on a Sabbath day? When no one answered his question, he healed the man with a withered hand.
Jesus was grieved because the religious leaders were so devoted to their system that they would not think. That kind of hard-heartedness in these people who were suppose to reflect God and His views angered Jesus. He performed the miracle because it was in keeping with God's will to do good to people on the Sabbath even if the person's life was not in jeopardy.
To God, people are more important than the rules and regulations He gave. He gave the rules and regulations to benefit people! To do good to people in need was in keeping with the intent of God's rules and regulations! Again, Jesus declared/showed that people matter to God. Again, Jesus revealed that the focus of God's rules and regulations was the good of people.
We need to exercise caution. Obedience is not a mindless, rote set of acts we do merely to demonstrate God's supremacy. Neither is obedience a form of rebellion that dares to dictate to God what we consider good. Both views of obedience fail to understand (a) God's focus is on His concern for people, and (b) God is the source of all good [He determines good, not we].
One of the great failures of Christians today is our failures to motivate people to accept God because we wish to be in relationship with God. A Christian does what is right because doing what is right reflects the nature of his/her Father (Matthew 5:16; 5:43-48; 9:8; 15:31; Mark 2:12; Luke 7:16; Acts 4:21; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Galatians 1:24). Our religious heritage is so deeply rooted in the horrors of hell and the wonders of heaven that too often we cannot conceive of a spiritual motivation that does not include fear or beauty.
In the first century, devoted children wanted to be like their father. Devoted spiritual children [sons and daughters of God] want to be like their spiritual Father. They admire their Father. It is that admiration that generates a spiritually mature motivation. That is not to suggest that the consequences of evil behavior or the blessings of godly behavior are unscriptural motivations. It is the declaration that there is a motivation that goes beyond the fear of punishment or the rewards of surrender. That motivation lies in the understanding that God genuinely merits our praise and glorification.
For Thought and Discussion
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 6